Researchers claim that consuming 5 A Day will add up to three extra years to a person's lifespan.

Scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm studied more than 70,000 middle-aged men and women. They found that early deaths, mostly from heart disease, were more common among non-vegetable eaters who had an average life span of 34 months shorter than that of vegetable-eaters. The adults who took part in the 13-year project were aged between 45 and 83.

With only one in three Britons currently consuming five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, Catherine Collins, principal dietitian at St George’s Hospital NHS Trust, London hopes that the research will help to convert more people to the Department of Health's 5 A DAY aspirational goal. She said: “If you eat the right amount of fruit and vegetables you seem to have a longer life.”

As demand for high-quality topfruit grows in China, Belgian and Dutch suppliers have established themselves in the market. But what opportunities does the market hold for British firms if access can be secured, asks Fred Searle